Posts in "Jeb Bush"

January 8, 2015

Fresh off a tour of duty at the National Republican Senatorial Committee that saw the GOP net nine seats and take control of the Senate, Rob Collins is joining an old friend in the lobbying world.

Collins will be a senior principal at the S-3 group, the boutique firm announced Thursday morning. Collins led the NRSC through the 2014 cycle during the chairmanship of Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan.

“I couldn’t be more excited for Rob to join our firm. He is a game-changer and a super thoughtful strategist who knows D.C. and all of the players. He will add tremendous value for our clients and causes,” said S-3 Co-Founder and Managing Partner John Scofield, who was a senior aide at the House Appropriations Committee before leaving the Capitol for the government affairs realm.

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush’s presidential exploration roiled Capitol Hill last week. Back in his home state, pols also had their eye on another Sunshine State Republican, Sen. Marco Rubio, whose own presidential ambitions could kick off a pivotal open-seat race for Senate.

Rubio has expressed interest in running for president, and he’s made clear he will not run for both that office and Senate at the same time. Following Bush’s announcement, Rubio said in a statement that his decision will not be impacted by “who else might be running” for president. Full story

“In January, I also plan to establish a Leadership PAC that will help me facilitate conversations with citizens across America to discuss the most critical challenges facing our exceptional nation,” Bush wrote in a Facebook post. “The PAC’s purpose will be to support leaders, ideas and policies that will expand opportunity and prosperity for all Americans.”

October 30, 2014

When the myriad Republican presidential contenders start campaigning for 2016, their journeys might not look much different from this cycle.

From Iowa to New Hampshire, every Republican who is even remotely considering a 2016 bid hit the trail this year to help Senate contenders. What’s more, several competitive Senate races are this year conveniently in states that play host to early nominating contests in 2016.

Joni Ernst, the Republican running for the open seat in Iowa, has had almost every presidential hopeful campaign for her.

Thom Tillis, the Republican nominee in North Carolina, has had visits from even more of them. North Carolina’s legislature voted last year to move the primary to the Tuesday after South Carolina’s contest, placing it in the early group of presidential primary states.

In North Carolina, state Speaker Thom Tillis, Dr. Greg Brannon, and Pastor Mark Harris are vying for the GOP nomination to challenge Sen. Kay Hagan, D-N.C., in a marquee race that will help determine which party controls the Senate next year.

Further down the ballot, an American Idol runner-up hopes he’ll have better luck in a Tar Heel State House race and longtime Rep. Walter B. Jones, R-N.C., will try to avoid becoming the first incumbent to lose a primary this cycle. In Ohio, a spirited challenger — perhaps best known for parodying a Cialis commercial in his bid — will attempt to unseat Speaker John A. Boehner.

In North Carolina, the contests could drag out for months. Primaries for Senate, the 6th and 12th Districts might continue to a runoff on July 15 if no candidate receives at least 40 percent of the vote.

Here are six things to watch in those races and others on Tuesday: Full story

“I am confident that the road to a majority runs through Thom Tillis in North Carolina,” Bush wrote in an email to Tillis supporters.

A candidate must get 40 percent of the vote in Tuesday’s primary to avoid a July runoff in the Tar Heel State. The winner will face Sen. Kay Hagan, D-N.C., in one of the most competitive Senate races of the cycle. Full story

March 16, 2013

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., won the Conservative Political Action Conference straw poll on Saturday, edging out fellow Sen. Marco Rubio. He follows in the footsteps of his father, former Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, who was a perennial CPAC straw poll winner.

Paul took 25 percent with Rubio garnering 23 percent at the annual event that took place at National Harbor, Md., this year. This comes about a week after Paul’s Senate floor filibuster that created the Twitter hashtag “StandWithRand.” The motto translated at CPAC – some of the biggest souvenir hits were Mad Men logo “Stand With Rand” stickers and t-shirts that featured Paul’s silhouette.

January 11, 2013

Ryan is slated to speak at the Conservative Political Action Conference in March. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

House Budget Chairman Paul D. Ryan is scheduled to address the Conservative Political Action Conference in March, the American Conservative Union announced Friday.

The Wisconsin congressman and former Republican vice presidential nominee is a regular at the annual gathering and is considered a potential White House candidate for 2016.

“From the day he was elected, Chairman Ryan has been a strong voice in Congress for pro-growth, free market economic policies and has always been a CPAC favorite,” ACU Chairman Al Cardenas said in a statement. Full story